Brexit: A new era for the UK

What has happened since 31 January

The United Kingdom has now left the European Union, after 47 years of membership. This means that the UK is no longer part of the EU's single market or customs union, and is now an independent country.

The UK's departure from the EU has been a long and difficult process, with many twists and turns along the way. The UK government initially triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty in March 2017, which started a two-year process of negotiation with the EU. However, the negotiations proved to be more difficult than expected, and the UK was granted a number of extensions to the Article 50 process.

Finally, on 31 January 2020, the UK left the EU. The UK is now in a transition period, which will last until 31 December 2020. During this time, the UK will continue to follow EU laws and regulations. However, the UK will also be free to negotiate new trade deals with other countries.

The UK's departure from the EU is a significant event, and it is likely to have a major impact on the UK's economy and society. It is too early to say what the long-term effects of Brexit will be, but it is clear that the UK is entering a new era.

What's next for the UK?

The UK is now in a transition period, which will last until 31 December 2020. During this time, the UK will continue to follow EU laws and regulations. However, the UK will also be free to negotiate new trade deals with other countries.

The UK government has said that it wants to negotiate a free trade agreement with the EU. However, the EU has said that it will not negotiate a free trade agreement that would give the UK the same level of access to the single market as it had when it was a member of the EU.

The UK government has also said that it is prepared to leave the EU without a deal. However, this would likely lead to significant economic disruption, and the UK government has said that it would prefer to avoid this outcome.

The future of the UK is uncertain. However, it is clear that the UK is entering a new era. The UK is now an independent country, and it will need to find its own way in the world.